Uptick in Denial Rate for Colorado MMJ Applications

Nearly a quarter of all medical marijuana business applications processed in Colorado since September have been denied by the state, a higher rate than the average over the past few years.

Since September, state regulators in Colorado have denied 51 (or 24%) of the 217 applications they processed, according to The Denver Post. That compares to an average denial rate of about 16% since 2010.

A spokesperson for the state’s Marijuana Enforcement Division told the Post that it takes longer to deny a license than to accept one, leading to an increase in denials as the agency finishes up its application backlog, which dates back to 2010.

Last week, the MED said it had reduced the number in its backlog from 900 a year ago to just 96 this month. It hopes to process all remaining applications by the end of the year.

The increase in denials eases fears the the MED is rushing through the process and rubber-stamping applications after dragging its feet for years.

Still, the MED faces scrutiny over the issue, as the backlog has created numerous complications for businesses waiting on a decision.

Of the 96 businesses currently operating without finalized licenses, 12 were targeted in last month’s federal raids. It’s unclear why the businesses were raided. But if it had something to do with the fact that they didn’t have state-issued licenses, then the MED could bear the brunt of the blame.

One comment on “Uptick in Denial Rate for Colorado MMJ Applications”

From my sources the letters of denials have been in the upwards of 160 out of the 500 applications. This is one third of the industry. This is hundreds of millions of dollars in jobs, facilties, tax revenue and patients that will loose out. This is a major hit to Colorado. Most of these places have never received a ticket or right up, the industry is going to be ran by crony attorney and politicens that have the connections and bank roll to survive the buricratic machine.